Dispatches from Nowhere in Particular

A repository of the collected works of Daniel Christopher Bradley, 2005-2007.
It's not as pretentious as it sounds.

Saturday, June 30, 2007

There's hope in the ivy-covered burial ground

(Edit: It's the middle of the night, and I just woke up. What follows here is ridiculous. It should be deleted for fear that I jinxed them--it's so sensitive that I refuse to say their name--but I'll leave it. If they lose today, go on a multiple game losing streak and finish 20 games out of first, it's my fault. Optimism is stupid, kids. Don't try it. It fries the brain.)

I'm being cautious. I really am. They're 39-39. Still six-and-a-half games behind Milwaukee. But, my, was that beautiful today or what? It's amazing how a seven-game winning streak suddenly makes the days a little brighter. What I'm about to say requires I remind you that skepticism is a natural trait of mine. Normally, I'd say, "Yeah, but the five-game losing streak is coming soon. Just watch." But something feels different. I don't know what it is, but something good is about to happen. I have a feeling. It's a weird feeling, and I don't know how to deal with it. It's almost as if there is a change in the cosmic forces that determine the universe's events. So, we'll see. But if I'm wrong, I'll be fine. I'll just return to my normal refrain of, "I hate them, I hate them, I hate them. Why do I put myself through this? Oh well. It could be worse. I could be a...Phillies fan."

Friday, June 29, 2007

There's nothing quite like a break-dancing ape

Back in the days of yore, like 1993 or 94, I had a birthday party that suddenly erupted in a singing of the theme song from "Stop the Planet of the Apes I Want To Get Off!" Well, OK. It didn't, you know, erupt. Really it was just my two cousins, my brother and me. Or maybe it was just one of my cousins. I don't know. It was a long time ago. What I do know is that this was the best song ever on The Simpsons.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Letters to the good people of the world

Dear Dick Cheney,

Foremost among all the things I would like to say to you is, please sir, stay out of my dreams. It is bad enough you don't feel you are a part of the executive branch, but to enter my slumber is simply unacceptable. Perhaps you do not understand my complaint. Let me explain.

Under a falling sunset, you and I walked side-by-side to the Dairy Queen a mile from my house. We laughed the happy laugh of longtime pals as we excitedly anticipated the sugary goodness that awaited us. When we arrived, you ordered chocolate, and I, vanilla. And then you changed. Your face twisted into that freakishly terrifying half-smile, and you chided me for my choice of ice cream. "Girly," you called it. And you knocked the cone out of my hand, laughed and walked away.

Please don't put me through this again. It is appreciated.

Yours in impeachment,

Daniel

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Dear Water,

Wipe your damn self off my floor because I ain't not gonna do it. Ain't not. Does that mean I am going to do it? Oh, I don't know. Just dry yourself, please.

Yours in the quality airflow needed to speed the pace of evaporation,

Daniel

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Dear Mrs. Lincoln,

I apologize for using my single-use time machine for the purpose of going back to 1983 to halt my parents' drunken gropefest that resulted in my brother's existence rather than rushing to Ford's Theatre on the night of April 14, 1865, to prevent John Wilkes Booth from murdering your husband. I was selfish.

Yours in unhappy familial developments and long unruly run-on sentences,

Daniel

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Dear Air Conditioning System At Work,

I realize it is not your fault. Somebody in charge of your control panel made you so cold. But you have to understand, it is simply not practical for me to sit at my desk wearing gloves, earmuffs and a coat. It makes typing difficult. And you know, when it is 90 degrees outside, it looks freakish to walk into a building with what amounts to snowstorm gear. All that is missing is my sled. Wait...that's a good idea. I'm going to sled down the spiral staircase. You're awesome!

Yours in frostbite and potential future paralysis,

Daniel

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Dear Closest Star To The Earth, or, The Sun,

Quite honestly, you frighten me. Appearing and disappearing as you please. The consistency of it all is horrifying. It's like a real life peekaboo on a huge scale. It, it gives me the terrors. You're making me crazy. Oh, and stop being so hot. Al Gore is soooo going to kick your ass, so watch yourself. But there's one thing I don't understand. Clouds. Why do you deal with them? Why don't you just say, "Hey, guys, what the hell? Get out of my way!" and blast them with your rays of fury? You probably could.